Closure for pressurized vessels



June 4, 1963 B. G. cox

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1959INVENTOR. BRADLEY G. COX

ATTORNEYS June 4, 1963 B. G. cox 3,

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS Filed Dec. 14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2COMPLESSOR INVENTOR. B RADLEY G. COX

ATTORNEYS June 4, 1963 B. G. coX

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D60. 14, 1959INVENTOR. BRADLEY G. COX

ATTORNEYS June 4, 1963 B. G. cox 3,

CLOSURE FOR PRESSURIZED VESSELS Filed Dec. 14. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .H,441 2| 46 28 2.7 I 46 44b FIG.

20 2s 44ar44b 32 30A INVENTOR. 29 3033 BRADLEY G. COX

BY FIG. 8 WW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,092,285 CLOSURE FORPRESSURIZED VESSELS Bradley G. Cox, Saginaw, Mich, assignor to BakerPerkins Inc., Saginaw, lVIich-, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 14,1959, Ser. No. 859,432 Claims. (Cl. 22046) This invention relates toclosures and more particularly to closures or doors for centrifugalmachines and other vessels which are internally pressurized.

Since the door or closure for the centrifilgal chamber of a batch typecentrifuge of the type used for segregating liquids and solids normallycarries a peeler knife and chute assembly of considerable size, and itis desirable to move this assembly out of the centrifugal drum when thedoor is opened, it has been found expedient to hingedly mount the doorand, to permit the knife box and chute assembly to clear the chamber, tohingedly mount the door at a point which is somewhat removed from andinset relative to mating surfaces on the door and drum.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a door ofthis general character which can be readily opened and closed and which,when closed, provides an adequate seal to prevent the escape of thefluid or gases under high pressure or vacuum which are within thecentrifugal chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to design a door or cover whichneed not be bolted in sealing relation and, rather, can be locked byother means which can be simply and readily manipulated to permit arelatively rapid opening and closing of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swhig door of thecharacter described, for high pressure vessels, which provides thenecessary clearances for the swinging surfaces and yet functions toachieve a close mating of sealing surfaces so that an effective sealwhich will withstand high pressures is provided.

Still a further object of the invention is to design a door or coverwhich employs the pressure of the gases within the drum to tightly sealthe door so that the necessary operating clearance can be provided forintermeshing surfaces on the vessel and door, and for the lockingmembers which retain the door in closed position without affecting thetight seal which is achieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide intermeshing members onthe drum and door which extend normally to the axis of the hingeconnection so that the matter of swinging clearances and bending of ashear bar or shear bars is not a problem, and the bore of the housingand the door tend to be located in precise alignment.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a drum or vesselhaving a sealing ring which is movable as necessary to achieve a matedengagement over its entire sealing surface with a mating surface on thedoor for the drum.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a door or closureconstruction having readily accessible elements which are of simple andrelatively inexpensive construction and will stand up under conditionsof severe and constant use without requiring undue replacement orrepair.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the centrifuge with the door inclosed position and shown partly in section, to illustrate interlockingmembers on the door and drum;

3,092,285 Patented June 4, 1 963 FIGURE 2 is a partly sectional, topplan view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the door inclosed position and indicating the manner in which one of the lockingsectors is received by the chamber wall and door;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the open end of thedrum only, illustrating the construction of the locking lug membersthereon;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, end elevational view thereof; 7

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the one end of thedoor only, showing the projecting lug members thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional, side elevational viewwith the door locked in sealed position, illustrating particularly thesealing surfaces on the drum housing and door;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational viewillustrating particularly the construction of cam mechanism for movingone of the shear ring sectors to locking position and showing the sectorin locked position;

FIGURE 10 is a similar view with the shear ring sector moved outwardlyto permit the door to be opened;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional, inverse plan view taken on the line 1111 ofFIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional, side elevational view taken on the line 1212of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of one of the shearring segments, showing the cam and support plate thereon.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which Ihave shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the centrifugehousing or drum H is provided with the usual bearing 10 for supportingthe drive shaft 11, as shown in FIGURE 2. The perforate, separatingbasket 12, which is fixed on the end of shaft .11, employs the usualexpressing ports 13 which permit the liquids to be expressed bycentrifugal force from the interior of basket 12 to the housing H anddrain 14, while the solids collect on the interior peripheral wall ofthe basket. Mounted on the opposite end of shaft 11 is a pulley (notshown) as in Davis et al. Patent No.

2,65 8,620, hereby incorporated by reference, which shows a similarcentrifugal construction.

In the interests of clarity, the knife box and discharge chute assemblyfor removing the segregated solids, which is supported by the disheddoor D, are not shown except at C in FIGURES 1 and 2. However, it is tobe understood that when the door D swings outwardly about its hingepoint 15, the knife box and discharge chute assembly, which are of thesame type as shown in the aforementioned Davis et al. patent, move outof the basket 12 and housing H to permit free access to the interiorthereof. Provided on the housing H are hinge pin supports 16 and it willbe seen that hinge members 17, having openings 17a to receive the pins15, are provided for the door D.

The interior of housing H is pressurized in any convenient manner and inthe instant case pipe 18 communicating with the interior of the housingH is shown as leading to a compressor 19' of any commercially availabletype for delivering air or other suitable gases to the interior of thehousing H at pressures which may be psi or greater. When it is desiredto depressurize the drum or housing H, the valve V in line 19a whichalso communicates with the interior of the housing H is simply opened.The pressure within housing H is utilized area to provide an adequateand effective seal.

to achieve the desired sealed relation between the door D The topmost.and lowermost grooves 22 are interrupted to provide topmost andlowermost lugs 23 as shown centered on the vertical axis with the onesurface of each of these lugs being relieved on the same side as at 23a.

Similarly provided in the flange 21 of door D are horizontally extendinggrooves-24 alternately arranged with respectto the grooves 22 and sizedto receive the axially projecting lugs or fingers 23 in the manner shownin FIGURE 3. The grooves 24 define lugs or fingers 25 projecting axiallyof the drum housing H when the door is inclosed position, and these aresized to be received in the grooves 22' of flange 20. The topmost andlowermost lug members25 are interrupted by recesses 24 and lug members25 are relieved on the same side of the vertical centerline as at 25a.Because the projections 23 and 25 extend horizontally, the fact that thearc of swing of the projections 25 furthest from hinge pin is quitedifferent from the arc of swing of the projections 25 nearest the hingepin 15 does not require undue door operating clearances, as would berequired if the lugs 23 and 25 were radially or vertically extending.Provided in the projecting locking'lugs 23 and 25 are grooves 26 and 27,respectively, extending generally normally to the lugs and situated in acommon vertical plane normal to the horizontal axis of the drum housingH when the door is in closed position and the lugs 23 and 25 are ininterlocked relationship to providea continuous groove which can receiveshear ring sector members 28. The manner in which the shear ring sectors28 are moved radially into the continuous groove formed by grooves 26and 27 from 7 position outward thereof to lock the door D in closedposition will be later described in detail.

In the instant case, the effectiveness of the seal does not, depend onthe fit of. the locking lugs 23 and 25 in the grooves 24 and 22,respectively, and it is to be understood that these members are providedwith adequate operatingv clearances, as are the grooves 26 and 27., The.seal achieved is, rather, a function .of other surfaces, which will nowbe described.

Mounted on the flange of the housing H are inwardly extending plates28:: having threaded openings 29' (see FIGURE 8) for receiving thethreaded ends of stud members,30. The stud members 30, which have. nuts30a, mount an annular housing seal ring 31 having flange plates 32 withopenings 33 aligned with the openings 29 and providing a slidingclearance for the seal ring 31 so that it is shiftable axially of thehousing H. Provided on the forwardly projecting and outward portion ofthe ring 31 is an axially tapering, annular surface 34 which mates withan identically tapered, annular and inner surface 35 on the door flange21. Grooves 36 and'37 on the seal ring 3-1 accommodate annular, rubber,Q-ring seals 38 and 39, as shown, which respectively seal theinterlocking lugs 23 and from both sides. It is important to observethat the width or depth a of the inner radial surface 31a of thecontinuous seal ring 31 is considerably greater than the width b of theouter radial surface 32b of the seal ring 31. Since the interiors'of thehousing H anddoor D are pressurized, thepressure against the sur- "face31a, which is of greater area, will hold the surfaces 34 and 35 intightly sealedrelation and the pressure is in this way effectivelyutilized with surfaces of different The seal ring 31 can move axially ofthe housing H and also tilt very, very slightly, so that undue care doesnot have to can thence be repeated.

be exercised in the machining of the grooves 22 and 24 and the seal ring31 adjusts to permit the surfaces 34 and 35 to achieve tightly sealedfacial engagement over the length and width of surface 34.

Mounted on the door housing flange 2'1, which is shouldered as at 40(see FIGURE 11), are cam support blocks 41 secured to the flange 21 bybolts 42. Four such blocks 41 are shown in FIGURE 1, since four lockingsectors or shear bars 28, slightly spaced one from the other as at 43,are employed. However, it is to be understood that rnore or less lockingsectors 28 could be provided as desired. Each sector 28 has a radially,outwardly projecting plate '44 thereonprovided with a radial slot 45 andprojecting inner and outer wall portions 44a and 4412 which receive acylindrical cam 46 between them, as shown. Each plate 44 is received forsliding movement in a groove 47 provided in the block 41 (see FIG- URE12) and each cam 46 is eccentrically mounted at one side on a shaft 48which extends through the slot 45 in the sector plate member '44 and abore 49 provided in the block 41.

A handle H comprising a sleeve 50 pinned to the shaft .48 as at 51, andprovided with oppositely extending handle arms 52 fixed in openings 53provided in the hub 50 is conveniently provided for each rotating shaft48. Accordingly, cam 46 can be readily moved .about the axis of shaft 48to force a locking ring sector 28.from the outward position in which itis shown in FIGURE 11 to an interlocked position in the continuousgroove formed by grooves 26 and 27, as shown in FIGURE 9". Since thereare no side walls for the plates 44 correspond ing to the walls 44a and44b, the cams 46 are free to revolve about the axes of their shafts 48and the locking ring sectors 28 are moved smoothly in a radial path intothe notches 26 and 27. Because of the seal effected at surfaces 34, 35,operating clearances can be provided for the locking ring sectors 28 andnot attempt is made to wedge the sectors 28 into position or to clampthe locking lugs 23 and 25 in locked relation. The sectors 28 servesimply as shear bars to maintain the door in closed V position.

:are shown in FIGURE 1 so that cams 46 operate to force the walls 44boutwardly. In this manner the locking sectors 28 are smoothly withdrawnradially from the grooves 26 and 27. 7

When the drum'housing H is to be closed once again, the door D is swungclosed about its hinge pin 15 to bring the lockingrlugs 23 and 25 intointermeshing relation and align the peripheral grooves 26 and 27. Thehandles H are then rotated reversely through to cause the cams 46' tobear against the walls 44a of the plates 44 and move the locking ringsectors 28 radially from the position shown in FIGURES'IO and 11 totheposit-ion shown in FIGURE 9 received within the aligned grooves 26and 27. Thence the compressor 17 can be started to provide the chamber Hwith the desired gases at the desired pressure and the centrifugingcycle It shouldbe apparent that a closure construction of simple andreliable design which is suitable not only for centrifuges but for otherpressurized vesselshas been perfected and constitutes a, substantialimprovement over .the invention, rather than limiting, and variousequivalent elements may be employed within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A housing having an opening bounded by a fixed marginal, annularradially disposed surface, said housing having an axially extendingguide means radially inward of said radial surface; axially shiftableannular seal means mounted by said guide means radially inward of saidradially disposed surface, said seal comprising a metallic ring with aradially outer, axially tapering, peripheral surface portion ofdecreasing diameter outwardly leading to its outer edge, and axiallyspaced inner and outer radial end surfaces; a closure door for saidopening hinged to said housing at one side thereof and hav ng acomplementary, axially tapering, interior ring surface shaped to engagewith the axially tapering surface of said metmlic ring; means forpressurizing the interior of the housing; the annular radial surfacebounding said opening being located intermediate said axially spacedinner and outer end surfaces of the metallic ring and abutting with anannular radifl surface on said closure door when the door is in closedposition; and ring means of deformable material in engagement betweenthe metallic ring and door and between the metallic ring and housingnear the ends of said metallic ring said axially inner radial endsurface being of greater area than said axially outer radial end surfaceso that the pressure condition within said housing acts to maintainsealed engagement of said tapering surfaces.

2. A vessel having an opening bounded by a fxed marginal, generallyradially disposed perimetral surface portion; a hinged door for saidopening swingable to open and closed positions and having a generallyradially disposed peiimetral surface portion fixed thereon for radiallyabutting said fixed surface portion of the vessel; means for changingthe pressure in said vessel from atmospheric; and axially movable sealring means carried radially inwardly of said abutting surface portionsand having axially spaced inner and outer, generally radial surfaces,said seal ring means including a surface portion inclined to the axis ofthe vessel; one of said vessel and door having a sealing surface portioninclined to the axis of the vessel for abutting engagement with saidinclined surface portion on the seal ring means when the door is swungto closed position; the said inner radial surface of the seal ring meanshaving a portion exposed to the atmosphere of the vessel, and the saidouter radial surface of the seal ring means also having a portionexposed to the atmosphere of the vessel different in area than the saidexposed portion of the inner radial surface, the seal ring means beingdisposed so that pressure in the vessel urges the seal ring means in anaxial direction toward said sealing surface portion.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which guide means on theinterior of said vessel mounts said seal ring means for limited radialmovement as Well as axial movement.

4. A vessel having an opening bounded by a fixed marginal, generallyradially disposed perimetral abutment surface portion extending in aradial plane from a radially inner edge to -a radially outer edge; adoor for said opening movable to open and closed positions and having aperimetral abutment surface portion, extending radially from a radiallyinner edge to a radially outer edge, and abutting radially with saidfixed perimetral surface portion of the vessel when the door is moved toclosed position; means for changing the pressure in said vessel fromatmospheric; seal ring means carried radially inwardly of the saidabutting surface portions and having axially spaced inner and outer,generally radial surfaces;

and guide means on one of said vessel and door mounting said seal ringmeans for limited axial movement; one of said vessel and door having asealing surface portion engaged by said seal ring means when the door isin closed position; the said inner radial surface of the seal ring meanshaving a portion exposed to the atmosphere of the vessel, and the saidouter radial surface of the seal ring means also having a portionexposed to the atmosphere of the vessel different in area than the saidexposed portion of the inner radial surface, the seal ring means beingdisposed so that pressure in the vessel urges the seal ring means in anaxial direction toward said sealing surface portion.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said guide means ismounted on the inner peripheral Wall of said vessel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,889,666 Lange Nov. 29, 1932 2,114,381 Horner Apr. 19, 1938 2,277,824Franson Mar. 31, 1942, 2,347,844 Sandberg May 2, 1944 2,675,939 FraserApr. 20, 1954 2,687,910 Petch et al Aug. 31, 1954 2,692,066 Conrad Oct.19, 1954 2,725,252 Greer Nov. 29, 1955 2,948,431 Kuhn Aug. 9, 1960FOREIGN PATENTS 397,603 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1933

1. A HOUSING HAVING AN OPENING BOUNDED BY A FIXED MARGINAL, ANNULARRADIALLY DISPOSED SURFACE, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDINGGUIDE MEANS RADIALLY INWARD OF SAID RADIAL SURFACE; AXIALLY SHIFTABLEANNULAR SEAL MEANS MOUNTED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS RADIALLY INWARD OF SAIDRADIALLY DISPOSED SURFACE, SAID SEAL COMPRISING A METALLIC RING WITH ARADIALLY OUTER, AXIALLY TAPERING, PERIPHERAL SURFACE PORTION OFDECREASING DIAMETER OUTWARDLY LEADING TO ITS OUTER EDGE, AND AXIALLYSPACED INNER AND OUTER RADIAL END SURFACES; A CLOSURE DOOR FOR SAIDOPENING HINGED TO SAID HOUSING AT ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING ACOMPLEMENTARY, AXIALLY TAPERING, INTERIOR RING SURFACE SHAPED TO ENGAGEWITH THE AXIALLY TAPERING SURFACE OF SAID METALLIC RING; MEANS FORPRESSURIZING THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING; THE ANNULAR RADIAL SURFACEBOUNDING SAID OPENING BEING LOCATED INTERMEDIATE SAID AXIALLY SPACEDINNER AND OUTER END SURFACES OF THE METALLIC RING AND ABUTTING WITH ANANNULAR RADIAL SURFACE ON SAID CLOSURE DOOR WHEN THE DOOR IS IN CLOSEDPOSITION; AND RING MEANS OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL IN ENGAGEMENT BETWEENTHE METALLIC RING AND DOOR AND BETWEEN THE METALLIC RING AND HOUSINGNEAR THE ENDS OF SAID METALLIC RING SAID AXIALLY INNER RADIAL ENDSURFACE BEING OF GREATER AREA THAN SAID AXIALLY OUTER RADIAL END SURFACESO THAT THE PRESSURE CONDITION WITHIN SAID HOUSING ACTS TO MAINTAINSEALED ENGAGEMENT OF SAID TAPERING SURFACES.